taraxacum

American  

[tuh-rak-suh-kuhm] / təˈræk sə kəm /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. the dried roots of any of several composite plants of the genus Taraxacum, as the dandelion, T. officinale or T. laevigatum, used in medicine in powdered or fluidextract form chiefly as a tonic and aperient.

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taraxacum British  

/ təˈræksəkəm /

noun

1. any perennial plant of the genus Taraxacum, such as the dandelion, having dense heads of small yellow flowers and seeds with a feathery attachment: family Asteraceae (composites)

2. the dried root of the dandelion, used as a laxative, diuretic, and tonic

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Etymology

Origin of taraxacum

1700–10; < New Latin < Arabic ṭarakhshaqūn wild chicory < Persian tarkhashqūn wild endive

Example Sentences

Among the products of the order, may be mentioned chicory, lettuce, the artichoke, the vegetable oyster, arnica, chamomile-flowers, wormwood, absinth, elecampane, coltsfoot, taraxacum, oil of tansy, etc.

From The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits by Parsons, Mary Elizabeth

And in many places the Leontodon taraxacum is designated "blow-ball," because children blow the ripe fruit from the receptacle to tell the time of day and for various purposes of divination.

From The Folk-lore of Plants by Dyer, T. F. Thiselton (Thomas Firminger Thiselton)

Leontodon taraxacum, Dandelion, opens at 5—6, closes at 8—9.

From The Botanic Garden. Part II. Containing the Loves of the Plants. a Poem. With Philosophical Notes. by Darwin, Erasmus

The following is an excellent tonic: Sulphate of quinine, 1/8 to 3 grains; powdered rhubarb, 2 to 10 grains; extract of taraxacum, 3 to 20 grains; make a bolus.

From Dogs and All about Them by Leighton, Robert

You may give a bolus before dinner, such as the following: Compound rhubarb pill, 1 to 5 grains; quinine, 1/8 to 2 grains; extract of taraxacum, 2 to 10 grains.

From Dogs and All about Them by Leighton, Robert